Milwaukee Veterans Accupuncture

 

The Milwaukee Veterans Acupuncture clinic
is permanently closed as of June 30, 2015.

I would like to thank  Dryhootch for their long term support. Thanks are due also to Easter Seals who gave us clinic space and the Stenz-Griesell-Smith American Legion Post 449 for helping make our fundraiser a big success. The many dedicated and behind-the-scenes volunteers and long term donors made the clinic possible and I am very grateful for their support.

Although the clinic is closing, I feel confident that all of the wonderful people that supported it will continue to promote much needed and well deserved health care for our veterans and their families.

Thank you for this opportunity to serve our military personnel.

Christine Jablonski, Founder
Milwaukee Veterans Acupuncture
TheMVAClinic.com

Celebrating the 7th Anniversaryof Dryhootch!

Congratulations on another year!

Thanks for the good work you do!
And for your ongoing support of Milwaukee Veterans Acupuncture!

Fish Fry Fundraiser for MVA Clinic | May 1

Fish Fry Fundraiser
   for        

Milwaukee Veterans Acupuncture Clinic *

EVERYONE WELCOME!

May 1, FRIDAY – 4:30-8:30PM

~ Live Music ~RESERVATIONS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED~

  Call: 262-781-0488  Press 2 for kitchen

Stenz-Griesell-Smith American Legion Post 449

3245 N. 124^Th Street

Brookfield, WI 53005

Just across 124^th from Briggs & Stratton
Parking in front of the building and on street.

  

Download the Event Flyer!

Want to print and distribute this flyer?

Download it here.

Thank you.

Milwaukee Veterans Acupuncture on Milwaukee Public Radio

"During emotional hearings about the alleged overprescription of narcotics at the Tomah VA hospital, many who testified noted there are safer ways to treat pain. One treatment mentioned was acupuncture." 

"Veterans in Wisconsin Seek Alternatives to Narcotics to Ease Pain"
Erin Toner. WUWM Milwaukee Public Radio. 2 April 2015.

Milwaukee Public Radio news reporter Erin Toner visited the MVA Clinic this week. She interviewed veterans Ron Gronitz and Larry Burt (who also works at the Dryhootch FOB* at our Easter Seals clinic location) as well as our acupuncturists, clinic founder, Christine Jablonski and Dr. John Vondrell.

Listen to the podcast (or read the report) at this link:
http://wuwm.com/post/veterans-wisconsin-seek-alternatives-narcotics-ease-pain

*Forward Operating Base

(Re) Opening Day!

It was a sunny, if chilly day last week when Milwaukee Veterans Acupuncture (MVA) had it’s grand reopening.  After a year of reorganization and regrouping, we have settled in our new home at Easter Seals of Southeastern Wisconsin, in Waukesha. 

The clinic will be open every Tuesday, with group sessions at 11am, 12noon, and 1pm. (Easter Seals has given us some wiggle room with available space and time, so we have room to grow.)

Our meet, greet and sign-in room is the DryHootch Forward Operating Base (FOB), right off the main lobby of the building. Larry is the DryHootch employee there in the FOB, and friendly backup for the MVA staff. He was first in line to receive some ear acupuncture on opening day! 

Our turnout was small, but the vets who came were regulars from the original DryHootch coffee shop clinic, where we started in 2012. It was a pleasant reunion. We hope to have more such reunions and as many new faces as the place can hold! 

 DryHootch on Brady Street, our first clinic site.

Check out the rest of website for more details on the clinic, acupuncture and the staff and this blog for the news and views. (Or stay in touch by following the MVA Clinic on Twitter!)

NOTE: There is MVA fundraiser in the planning stages - details to follow soon!

 (Hint!)

Acupuncture vs. Hypodermic Needles: There's a Big Difference!

If you've had a flu shot lately, or had your blood drawn, it's likely you're worried that acupuncture will be just as painful.  After all, needles are all alike, right?

Actually not!  The hypodermic needles that are used for shots or when you give blood are thick and hollow.  This is because they are designed for a certain job: to move blood out or inject a medicine or fluid into your body. 

Top: Hypodermic needle

Bottom: Close-up of hypodermic needle point.

Acupuncture needles are very different. They are fine, thin, and quite flexible, often no thicker than a human hair.

12 acupuncture needles can fit into
a single, regular-size hypodermic needle!

During a treatment, acupuncture needles are inserted just under the skin. Most people  are surprised that the needles produce little or no sensation and that the treatments are quite relaxing. Many patients even fall asleep during treatment. 

Acupuncturists use standard medical procedures to prevent infection. At the MVA Clinic, which uses the NADA Ear Protocol,* clients are given alcohol pads to disinfect their ears before the treatment.  The acupuncture needles are sterile, used only once, and then disposed of.  

If you have never had acupuncture before, it may be hard to believe that it is a very relaxing treatment.  But many people experience a profound relaxation with treatment and some describe it as almost a meditative state. 

• See our post -- What Happens at the MVA Clinic? -- a step-by-step, illustrated review of a typical treatment day.

• You can also read more about acupuncture at our page on this site: What is Acupuncture?

___________________________________________________

* What is the "NADA Protocol"?

[from the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) Website]

"At five designated ear points in each auricle (outer ear), NADA-trained clinicians apply fine gauge, sterilized, one-time use stainless steel needles just under the skin, where they remain for up to an hour while the patient (in most circumstances) relaxes quietly in a comfortable chair. Ordinarily, groups of patients sit together while undergoing the treatment."

In the United States, acupuncture practitioners must be certified. Medical doctors who practice acupuncture must complete a training program approved by the American Board of Medical Acupuncture.  Non-physicians must pass board exams given by the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine for certification.  

At Milwaukee Veterans Acupuncture, acupuncturists are licensed or certified in the state of Wisconsin and have malpractice insurance in place. OSHA guidelines are followed at all times in the clinic setting. In addition, all staff volunteers have been screened and have received training in the clinic’s operations. 

If you have any questions, you can contact us at info@TheMVAclinic.com. Or tweet us at http://twitter.com/TheMVAClinic.

______________________________________________

Image of hypodermic needle points by Dr. Henning Krämer. Image of acupuncture needles by Xhienne. Permission for both granted under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

Image of CVS Alcohol Prep Swabs from the product page on Amazon.

What Happens at the MVA Clinic?

 

When you come in you will see one of our greeters and the reception desk just as you come in the door.  Please take a moment to sign in.

If this is your first visit, you will sign a treatment consent form and, if it is okay with you, a consent to photograph. (If not, that's okay too. We'd just like to be able to add more pictures to this website!)

After your 1st visit, just put your name on that day's sign up sheet. This is also where you will pick up the alcohol swabs to clean your ears before treatment.

Make yourself comfortable while you wait.

The treatment sessions are private - and quiet.  We ask that everyone turn their cell phones off.

 

Before your treatment begins, the acupuncturist discusses the procedure and answers any of your questions and/or concerns. 

Then, in less than a minute, the ear needles are put in place. 

Now you just sit back and relax.  Many people find themselves entering into a very calm and meditative state which can last anywhere from 15 to 50 minutes.  Quiet music is played in the background and the lights are kept low which many people find very restful.

Afterward the needles are removed. Some people find they need to sit a few minutes before they get up to leave.

What does it feel like? Here's what some of our Vets have told us.

"Every time I have a treatment, it [the relaxation effect ] gets stronger." (Iraq Vet)

"I like the relaxation but it also treated my back pain!" (Vietnam Vet)

"She puts the needles in and it's Good night, Mabel!" (Vietnam Vet)

Many of our Vets say the effects of the treatment last for hours and even longer as they have successive treatments.

Welcoming Home the Walkers: Veterans Trek

Tom Voss and Anthony Anderson are the two veterans. On August 30, 2013 they left, on foot, departing from the Milwaukee County War Memorial in downtown Milwaukee for what was a five-month -- and 2,700-mile -- journey across the country that ended on January 30, 2014 at the Santa Monica pier at the end of Route 66. 

  Milwaukee Veterans Acupuncture on Twitter

Tom and Anthony had three goals:

To raise donations for Dryhootch in the sum of $100,000.

To raise awareness of the issues influencing Veterans and their families.

To take the time they felt they needed (and didn’t take after their return home from deployments in Iraq and separation from military service).

  

Dryhootch is a nonprofit organization formed by combat veterans to help Veterans returning home.

Both Tom and Anthony helped the Milwaukee Veterans Acupuncture clinic when we were first getting started.  They let us take pics of them receiving treatment.

On February 15th, a welcome home celebration was held in their honor at back at the Milwaukee County War Memorial.  

 

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was on hand.

 

As were a number of family, friends, and supporters.

And lots of cameras! 

MVA Clinic Team Leader, Chris Jablonski managed to get by the crush of media to greet Tom and Anthony.

The Veterans Trek continues . . . 

Tom and Anthony continue to welcome donations - see this link on the Veterans Trek website.

Welcome home, gentlemen. Thank you for your service!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

More (these links will take you off the MVA Clinic website)

Veterans Trek website

Veterans Trek on Facebook
Veterans Trek on Twitter 
Veterans Trek on Instagram

Dryhootch
Dryhootch | YouTube channel 

Video reports

Milwaukee's TMJ4 News | Feb 14, 2014
The Morning Blend | Milwaukee's Today TMJ4 | Feb 11, 2014 
Fox6 Now Milwaukee | Jan 26, 2014

Milwaukee Veterans Acupuncture Clinic Team Leader Christine Jablonski Talks About Acupuncture

Christine Jablonski, MSOM, MB, LicAc, BSN*

Registered Nurse/ Licensed Acupuncturist

The Milwaukee Veterans Acupuncture clinic was established two years ago by Christine Jablonski. Christine is a Registered Nurse and Licensed Acupuncturist. After graduating from Marquette University's College of Nursing in 1975, she worked in a wide variety of health care settings in Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Germany. 

After several years of study at the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine (Chicago, Milwaukee, and Guangzhou, China), Ms. Jablonski obtained her Master's Degree in 1998. Currently she is employed as the sole licensed acupuncturist for ProHealthCare in Wisconsin. 

ProHealthCare offers a variety of videos on their consumer services website. One of their most recent showcases the acupuncture services that Ms. Jablonski offers at ProHealthCare. 

The treatment shown in the video is not the community style that is offered at the Milwaukee Veterans Acupuncture clinic. The MVA clinic treatment uses the NADA Protocol which uses only five designated ear points. (You can learn more about the MVA Clinic approach on this page of our site; and more about the NADA Protocol here.)

_________________________________________________________________

*

• MSOM (Master of Science of Oriental Medicine) Midwest College of Oriental Medicine 
• MB (Bachelor of Medicine) Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China 
• LicAc (Licensed Acupuncturist) State of Wisconsin 
• BSN (Bachelor of Science Nursing) Marquette University

Celebrating with Dryhootch

Dryhootch.org was celebrating its 5th anniversary today and Milwaukee Veterans Acupuncture was there.

 

We were glad to see familiar faces.  Heather was preparing the brats and burgers on a the grill out back. Jeff (Dryhootch TwitterMaster) and his friend Liz were busy helping out inside.

We met a few new friends too.  Ruth from Vitas Hospice Service was baking fresh chocolate cookies for everyone.

Ruth and Chris (MVA Clinic acupuncturist)

And a certain friendly pooch was happy to be a part of the meet-n-greet.

We were glad to be part of the day.  

 

  MVA Clinic Table

Many thanks to Dryhootch for supporting Milwaukee Veterans Acupuncture!